Political Science Chap 1 and 2

What are the three principles underlying constitutional democracy?

The Rule of Law, Natural Law, and Natural Rights.

How and where are these three principles evident in the American system of government?

What were the three theoretical traditions at the foundation of the American political system?

(1) Classical Liberalism (2) Classical Republicanism (3) Inegalitarianism

How did the elements of the tradition of exclusion influence who was covered by the Constitution?

Please explain this statement: One cannot truly be a student of American government and politics without understanding the role that race played in the development of the American political system.

A student needs to understand the background of how race played in the American political system. People were not allowed to vote because of the color of their skin and they need to understand and be educated on the history of politics.

Civic Virtue p. 12

The subordination of individualism and individual self-interest to the interest of society.

Classical Liberalism p. 9

A body of Western European political philosophy that is concerned with the freedom of the individual and the role of government in protecting that freedom.

Classical Republicanism p. 9

A theory that rule by the people ought to be indirect through representatives.

Conservatives p.12

Individual who believes that government should pay a limited role in the lives of individuals and that government is not the source of solutions for problems.

Constitution p.7

A set of formal written rules and principles governing a state.

Constitutional Democracy p.7

A government that derives its authority from a constitution.

Coverture p.16

A doctrine and system in British common law according to which marriage merged a woman's legal identity with that of her husband.

Democracy p.6

A system of government in which political power is exercised by the people.

Direct Democracy p.6

A democracy in which the people are able to participate directly in decision making.

Feudalism p.10

A system of landholding involving a network of allegiances and obligations.

Government p.4

A social institution that controls the behavior of people; the political and administrative hierarchy of an organized state.

Indirect (or Representative) Democracy p.7

A democracy in which people do not participate directly in decision making and instead elect individuals to represent their interests.

Inegalitarianism p.9

A tradition of excluding large segments of the American population from participation in the political system despite the language of equality, liberty, and freedom.

Liberal p.12

An individual who believes that government has a role to play in the lives of individuals and that government can provide solutions to policy problems.

Natural Law p.8

Law that comes from nature and is superior to statutory law.

Natural Rights p.9

Rights to which every person is entitled, such as life and liberty; rights that are not dependent on government.

Politics p.6

The conflict, competition, and compromise that occur within a political system.

Public Good p.5

A government policy or action that benefits society as a whole rather than a specific individual.

Reparations p.2

A concept or tool for providing monetary payments to members of aggrieved groups based on past wrongful actions against them or their ancestors.

Republican Form of Government p.14

A government whose powers are exercised by elected representatives who are directly or indirectly accountable to the people governed.

Rule of Law p.8

The predominance of law over discretionary authority.

Social Construction of Race p.18

The construction of a group of people of various phenotypes, skin colors, and physical characteristics for political and social purposes such as enslavement and exclusion.

Social Contract p.10

Individuals creating government by entering into a contract with it.

Statutory Law p.8

A type of law pertaining to rules made by legislatures, especially Congress.

Tradition of Exclusion p.15

A tradition that excluded groups from the political system based on their ascribed traits, such as race, gender, and religion.

Make a list of the major grievances of the colonists under British rule.

1. lack of representation in Parliament

2. tightened enforcement of trade regulations that

benefitted England

3. tax increase after the French+Indian War

What are the major components of John Locke's political philosophy, and how did they influence Thomas Jefferson's writings?

Natural rights, consent of the governed, and a limited gov. Thomas Jefferson used Locke's political philosophy in the Declaration of Independence.

Draw a schematic diagram of the American Gov. under The Articles of Confederation.

Congress

↓

13 state legislatures

↓

"The People"

Make a list of the reasons why The Articles of Confederation failed.

1. each state could send 7 delegates to represent it at the

National Congress, but they could have only 1 vote

2. no power to tax or regulate commerce

3. no central leader or national court

4. couldn't handle problems b/c it was too weak

Briefly describe the general philosophical views of the founding father on human nature.

They held cynical views towards human nature.

Briefly describe the general philosophical views of the founding father on political conflict.

They believed that political conflict is found in the distribution of wealth (property) because it results in factions.

Briefly describe the general philosophical views of the founding father on objects of gov.

The preservation of property, security from invasion, domestic tranquility, and promotion of the general welfare.

Briefly describe the general philosophical views of the founding father on the nature of gov.

Gov. needs a system of checks and balances, as well as a separation of powers.

What were the 3 major equality issues at the Constitutional Convention, and how were they resolved?

1. representation: The Connecticut Compromise

2. How to count slaves: 3/5 Compromise (Article I,

Sect. 2)

3. equality in voting: they left this issue to the states

What were the major economic problems addressed at the Constitutional Convention, and how were they resolved?

1. states had tariffs against products from other states

2. paper money was worthless

3. Congress couldn't raise money b/c of recession

Why did the Founding Fathers believe it was unnecessary to address individual rights issues specifically in the Constitution?

They thought it would be easy to protect individualism.

Draw a schematic diagram of the Madisonian model of gov.

The President

↗ ↓

Electoral College nominates

↗ ⇑ ↓

voters ⇑ Supreme Court

⇓ ↘ ⇑ ↑

⇓ state legislatures confirms

⇓ ↘ ↑

⇓ U.S. Senate

⇓

↳→→→→→→ → → U.S. House of Representatives

Define the term "constitutional republic".

HINT: Laws, not men.

A form of government, where the head of state and other officials are representatives of the people and which governs in accordance with existing constitutional law.